Cutlery Basket for a Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A cutlery basket for a dishwasher includes at least one crockery basket into which at least one cutlery basket can be inserted and the cutlery basket has at least one cutlery basket base or at least one cutlery basket sidewall which is provided with a plurality of passages for washing liquid to pass through. The cutlery basket allows in a simple and efficient manner to substantially eliminate the danger of injury presented by items of cutlery that project upwards, especially items that are arranged with their tips pointing upwards, e.g. forks, steak knives, etc. For this purpose, at least one of the cutlery basket sidewalls that is substantially perpendicular to the cutlery basket base rises above the height of the items of cutlery that are optionally arranged in at least one cutlery basket in a substantially vertically upward-pointing manner.

The invention relates to a cutlery basket for a dishwasher comprising at least one crockery basket into which at least one cutlery basket can be inserted, which is provided with a plurality of passages for washing liquid to pass through at least in the bottom of the cutlery basket or in at least one side wall of the cutlery basket.

It is generally known to use crockery baskets to hold crockery items—such as plates, cups, glasses, cutlery etc., in particular in domestic dishwashers. Such a crockery basket is known, for example, from German Unexamined Laid-Open Patent Application DE-31 30 627 A1 or from German Utility Model DE-88 11 474 U1.

In crockery baskets of this type, additional removable inserts, so-called cutlery baskets are usually provided to hold cutlery, in which the cutlery items to be cleaned, e.g. knives, forks, spoons etc. are arranged substantially vertically upwards in the position of use. Such cutlery baskets are known, for example, from German Patent DE-36 41 020 C1 or German Unexamined Laid-Open Patent Application DE-100 56 487 A1. In all the known crockery baskets of the type specified initially, the cutlery items arranged in these cutlery baskets project upwards from the cutlery basket and from the crockery basket.

Dishwashers known on the market, in particular domestic dishwashers, have at least one crockery basket for arranging the items to be cleaned, where the at least one cutlery basket is usually arranged in the crockery basket which, when the door of the dishwasher is opened, rests thereon when withdrawn, in the lowermost crockery basket. The door of such dishwashers is usually pivotable about a horizontal axis. Such doors are known, for example, from German patent DE-35 37 185-C1.

In practice, it has been shown that when dishwashers are placed on the floor, the cutlery items, particularly when these are arranged so that their tips project upwards from the cutlery basket, present a major source of danger. When a door is opened out and then runs in a plane parallel to the floor at a short distance from the floor, inattentive persons, in particular children, could stumble over the open door and fall onto the crockery basket, sustaining considerable injuries from pointed elements and/or items of cutlery projecting upwards from the crockery basket, especially if these are arranged with their tips pointing upwards, e.g. forks, steak knives etc.

It is thus the object of the invention to at least significantly reduce the risk of injury described above in a simple fashion.

This object is achieved according to the invention by at least one of the side walls of the cutlery compartment rising at least above the height of the cutlery items which are arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket.

Since the side wall of the cutlery basket is higher than the hazardous inserted objects, the risk of injury is significantly reduced since a person falling onto the crockery basket is kept at a distance from the hazardous inserted objects by the raised side wall of the cutlery basket. The invention significantly reduces the risk of injury from upwardly projecting items of cutlery in a simple manner.

To complete the protection, according to a preferred feature of the invention, all the side walls of the cutlery basket at least rise above the height of the cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket.

More appropriately, in dishwashers with at least two crockery baskets arranged one above the other and at least one cutlery basket arranged in the lowermost crockery basket in the position of use, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by the next crockery basket arranged above the lowermost crockery basket and/or its spray device in the position of use or alternatively in dishwashers having only one crockery basket, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by the opening height of the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. This measure ensures that at the location of the hazard, the object of avoiding injuries according to the invention is achieved.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards are arranged so that they diverge upwards in the position of use at least partly in a funnel shape so that despite the raised side walls of the cutlery basket, it is easier to fill the cutlery basket with cutlery.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards can be at least partially removed. This measure ensures that the object of reducing injuries according to the invention is also achieved with cutlery baskets located at the user since these can be retrofitted. Thus, it is additionally possible, for example, when the children are grown up, to further operate the retrofitted cutlery basket and also that originally fitted with the removable wall portion by removing the additional wall portion, in which case in particular it is easier to fill the cutlery basket with cutlery.

The cutlery basket according to the invention is preferably manufactured simply if the removable wall portion consists of individual wall portions.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the individual wall portions of the removable wall portion are hinged about vertical axes in the position of use so that the removable wall portion is foldable, allowing space-saving storage.

The removable wall portion is preferably manufactured simply if the removable wall portion is produced in one piece.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cutlery basket has a cover. The arrangement of the cover increases still further the reduction of injuries forming the object of the invention since the hazardous inserted objects are additionally covered.

Easier handling of the cover, since this need not be stored separately, is appropriately achieved if the cover is hinged to at least one of the cutlery basket side walls or to at least one of the individual wall portions of the cover.

The cutlery basket or the removable wall portion is preferably manufactured simply by fabricating the cutlery basket in one piece with the cover or the removable wall portion in one piece with the cover.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, water guiding surfaces are arranged at least at one of the cutlery basket side walls which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use or at least at one of the individual wall portions which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use. These water guiding surfaces are used to ensure better action of water on the cutlery inserted in the funnel-shaped cutlery basket.

The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cutlery basket according to the invention and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an advantageous embodiment of a cutlery basket according to the invention.

In both embodiments cutlery baskets 1, 1′ for dishwashers, in particular domestic dishwashers, not described in detail, are shown and described. Such dishwashers usually have at least one crockery basket for arranging items to be washed, the at least one cutlery basket 1, 1′ usually being arranged in the crockery basket which, when the door of the dishwasher is opened, rests on said door when withdrawn, in the lowermost crockery basket. In practice, it has been shown that when dishwashers are placed on the floor, the cutlery items, particularly when these are arranged so that their tips project upwards from the cutlery basket 1, 1′, present a major source of danger. When a door is opened out and then runs in a plane approximately parallel to the floor at a short distance from the floor, and a crockery basket is withdrawn on this door, inattentive persons, in particular children, could stumble over the open door and fall onto the crockery basket, sustaining considerable injuries from items of cutlery projecting upwards from the cutlery basket 1, 1′, especially if these are arranged with their tips pointing upwards, e.g. forks, steak knives etc.

Both figures show embodiments of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention for insertion in a crockery basket. The embodiments of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention which are shown and described comprise a plurality of passages, not described in detail, for washing liquid to pass through in the cutlery basket base 2, 2′ and in all the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′.

According to the invention, at least one of the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′ located on the cutlery basket base 2 at least exceeds the height of the cutlery items, not shown, which are arranged in the cutlery basket 1, 1′ so that they point upwards. In the embodiments of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′ located on the cutlery basket base 2, 2′ at least exceed the height of the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket 1, 1′ so that they point upwards.

Since the side walls 3, 3′ of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ are higher than the hazardous inserted objects, the risk of injury specified initially is reduced by a person falling onto the crockery basket being held at a distance from the hazardous inserted objects by the raised side walls 3, 3′ of the cutlery basket 1, 1′.

Furthermore, it is common to both the embodiments of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention shown that in dishwashers having at least two crockery baskets arranged one above the other and at least one cutlery basket 1, 1′ arranged in the lowermost crockery basket in the position of use, the height of the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′ which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket 1, 1′ is limited by the next crockery basket arranged above the lowermost crockery basket in the position of use and/or its spray device.

Alternatively in dishwashers with only one crockery basket, the height of the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′ which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket 1, 1′ is limited by the opening height of the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.

In both embodiments of the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention which are shown, parts of the cutlery basket side walls 3, 3′ which rise above the cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards, are removable and form a removable wall portion 4, 4′ which consists of individual wall portions 5, 5′, 6, 6′, 7, 7′, 8, 8′ which in both embodiments are hinged about vertical axes in the position of use so that the removable wall portion 4, 4′ can be folded, in which case the removable wall portion 4, 4′ is fabricated in one piece. This can be achieved, for example, by means of individual wall portions 5, 5′, 6, 6′, 7, 7′, 8, 8′ connected with film hinges. The removable wall portion 4, 4′ ensures that the object of reducing injuries according to the invention is also achieved with cutlery baskets located at the user since these can be retrofitted. Thus, it is additionally possible, for example, when the children are grown up, to further operate the retrofitted cutlery basket 1, 1′ and also that originally fitted with the removable wall portion 4, 4′ by removing the additional wall portion 4, 4′, in which case in particular it is easier to fill the cutlery basket with cutlery. The individual wall portions 5, 5′, 6, 6′, 7, 7′, 8, 8′ which are hinged about vertical axes and which are in one piece, make it easier to fabricate the cutlery basket 1, 1′ according to the invention. Since the removable wall portion 4, 4′ can be folded, this ensures easy storage.

The embodiment of the cutlery basket 1 according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 has a cover 9 which is hinged to the individual wall portions 5, 6, 7, 8, in the exemplary embodiment shown to the individual wall portion 7. The removable wall portion 4 is fabricated in one piece with the cover 9.

In an alternative embodiment of the cutlery basket according to the invention without a removable wall portion which is not shown, the cover would be hinged to at least one of the cutlery basket side walls. In this case, the cutlery basket would be fabricated in one piece with the cover.

The hinging of the cover to either the removable wall portion or to one of the cutlery basket side walls ensures easier handling of the cover since it need not be stored separately. Production is made easier by fabricating in one piece, e.g. by hinging using film hinges.

The embodiment of the cutlery basket 1′ according to FIG. 2 has a removable wall portion 4′ which is arranged so that it diverges upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use, so that the cutlery basket side walls 3′ which rise above the cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards are arranged so that they diverge upwards in the position of use partly in a funnel shape. This makes it easier to fill the cutlery basket 1′ with cutlery despite the raised cutlery basket side walls 3′.

In the exemplary embodiment shown water guiding surfaces 10′ are arranged on the individual wall portions 5′, 6′, 7′, 8′ which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use, these being used to ensure better action of water on the cutlery inserted in the funnel-shaped cutlery basket 1′.

These water guiding surfaces would also be arranged on the funnel-shaped upwardly diverging cutlery basket side walls in the position of use when the removable wall portion is absent.

This embodiment of the cutlery basket according to the invention whether with or without the removable wall portion could naturally also be fitted with a cover which is executed as described for FIG. 1 and would be fixed to the cutlery basket side wall or the removable wall portion.

The invention significantly reduces the risk of injury by upwardly projecting cutlery items in a simple manner. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A cutlery basket for a dishwasher, the dishwasher having at least one crockery basket into which at least one cutlery basket can be inserted, the cutlery basket comprising: a lower structure and plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the lower structure, the lower structure supporting thereon cutlery items and the side walls promoting upward orientations of cutlery items resting thereagainst; and means forming a plurality of passages in at least one of the lower structure of the cutlery basket and one side wall of the cutlery basket for washing liquid to pass therethrough and at least one of the cutlery basket side walls rises to a height at least above the height of the cutlery items that are supported in the cutlery basket.
 15. The cutlery basket according to claim 14, wherein the cutlery basket is operable to support cutlery items so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket and all the cutlery basket side walls at least rise above the height of any cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket.
 16. The cutlery basket according to claim 15, wherein the cutlery basket is operable to be disposed in dishwashers with at least two crockery baskets arranged one above the other with one of the cutlery baskets arranged in the lowermost crockery basket in the position of use, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by at least one of the next crockery basket arranged above the lowermost crockery basket and a spray device in the position of use.
 17. The cutlery basket according to claim 15, wherein the cutlery basket is operable to be disposed in dishwashers with only one crockery basket, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by an opening height of a treatment chamber of the dishwasher.
 18. The cutlery basket according to claim 14, wherein the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards are arranged so that they diverge upwards in the position of use at least partly in a funnel shape.
 19. The cutlery basket according to claim 14, wherein the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards can be at least partially removable.
 20. The cutlery basket according to claim 19, wherein the removable wall portion consists of individual wall portions.
 21. The cutlery basket according to claim 20, wherein the individual wall portions of the removable wall portion are hinged about vertical axes in the position of use so that the removable wall portion is foldable.
 22. The cutlery basket according to claim 20, wherein the removable wall portion is fabricated in one piece.
 23. The cutlery basket according to claim 14, wherein the cutlery basket has a cover.
 24. The cutlery basket according to claim 23, wherein the cover is hinged to at least one of the cutlery basket side walls and at least one of the individual wall portions.
 25. The cutlery basket according to claim 23, wherein the cutlery basket is fabricated in a selected one of a one piece configuration with the cover and a configuration with the removable wall portion fabricated in one piece with the cover.
 26. The cutlery basket according to according to claim 20, wherein water guiding surfaces are arranged at least at one of the cutlery basket side walls which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use or at least at one of the individual wall portions which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use. 